www.roanoke.com

Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers myspace.com/jimmythackery

Thackery and his band play Friday night at Kirk Avenue Music. Here's our e-mail interview:

cutNscratch: You have a recently CD on Telarc, "Inside Tracks," about which you  say, "it's about the writing," and "not just about the hot dawg guitar player." What paths did you take to change your approach to the writing?

Jimmy Thackery: I started writing songs that I wanted to hear instead of writing for record exec's and blues publications

cNs: What were your inspirations in writing songs for this record?

JT: Some were autobiographical - some were inspired by a political thread.

cNs: Obviously, there is still a good deal of excellent guitar playing happening on the record. Do you find that after all these years, you're still learning new things about guitar?

JT: Hopefully, you're always learning. If you get to the point were you're not learning anymore, you should work construction or something and make real money.

cNs: Not long ago, your longtime drummer, Mark Stutso, left the band. Since then, drummer-singer Russ Wilson has been playing with you, including the set you all did at the Blues and BBQ fest here in Roanoke. How has Wilson's joining changed the vibe of the trio?

JT: It changed a lot! Allowed us to go back and play some swing/jump blues - something we previously had to avoid. Russ also brings a fair amount of new material to the party.
We're all having a blast working with Russ!

cNs: I understand that you've been working some also with a drummer-vocalist who is closely related to Levon Helm, and that the guy's playing and singing are very reminiscent of Helm. Please talk a little bit about that project.

JT: Yes, his name is Terry Cagle - he's Levon's nephew. Terry brings an entirely new direction to the material - sort of a little country-funk. His singing will remind you of Levon as well as his playing.

cNs: Your bio on the Telarc site says that you randomly walked into a Jimi Hendrix show in Washington, D.C., when you were 17. Talk about what you heard and how it affected you.

JT: Actually I was 15.

Well, I heard bombs going off ... saw fireworks. Realized then what "show business" was all about.

cNs: So, you've lost count of how many records you've made. That must mean you have another one on the way soon. Any hints about what paths you'll take on that one?

JT: Nope - you'll have to wait and see - so will I.